Poet Định Hải, author of ‘Bài ca Trái Đất’, passes away at 90

Vietnamese poet Định Hải, born Nguyễn Biểu, passed away on the afternoon of August 30 at the age of 90. He was a prominent figure in children's literature, known for his sincere and educational works that resonated with generations of Vietnamese children.

Định Hải is most famous for his poem ‘Bài ca Trái Đất’ (Song of the Earth), written in 1978 while attending an international children's summer camp in Germany. The poem was later set to music by composer Trương Quang Lục, becoming the iconic song ‘Trái Đất này là của chúng mình’ (This Earth Belongs to Us), which is recognized as one of the best Vietnamese children's songs of the 20th century.

Throughout his career, which began in 1962, he held several significant roles, including editor at Kim Đồng Publishing House, Editor-in-Chief of Tuổi xanh magazine, and Head of the Children's Literature Department at the Vietnam Writers' Association. His body of work includes short stories, poems, and scripts for animated films.